I am getting a Guru, custom titanium bike with a compact double and an XT mountain derailleur on the back cassette. It will have one more lower gear than my carbon triple. I just had the fitting and it was extensive.
My friend has the Specialized Ruby with the SRAM Apex compact double, which is a similar set up to what I am getting with Shimano on the Guru. She is not a particularly strong rider, is around your age and gets up all the hills I ride with her. She has more low gears than I have on my triple with the 11-27. I chose not to go the SRAM route on my new bike because I don't want to have to go back and forth between systems (I am not good with mechanical changes!).